Saturday, 17th October 2009 - 11:02CET
Most of the current buses cannot be used following reform
The buses forming the new public transport fleet cannot be more than 15 years old, Transport Minister Austin Gatt said this morning.
Addressing a news conference, the minister said the objectives of new system were economic, social and environmental.
Economic because it would be cheaper to use public transport than one’s own car, social because the buses would serve areas never served before, and environmental because the service would be cleaner.
The tender document for the new service is to be issued today. Five bidders have expressed an interest.
Manuel Delia, the head of the ministry’s secretariat said that 70 percent of the new fleet had to meet Euro 3 standards and the other 30 percent had to be Euro 4 compliant.
By the second year, the fleet has to be 50 percent in line with Euro 3 standards, the remainder with Euro 4.
By year four all buses had to be Euro 4 or better. This would mean less pollution through a reduction of hydro carbons, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter in the air.
Only130 buses of the current fleet of 508 meet the required standards to be used on the new routes.
Mr Delia said that at least 70 percent of buses operating within Valletta, in Cottonera, on the Attard, Lija and Balzan route and in Victoria, Xaghra and Zebbug routes in Gozo had to be electric.
Bus sizes would vary according to routes but the biggest buses could not be longer than 12.5 metres and higher than 4.5 metres.
Double deckers and articulated buses, which comprised of two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint, would be permissible although these were between 16 and 18 metres.
Buses had to be parked off street, there had to be safety on board, a first aid box, CCTV and electronic displays of the destination both at the front and back of the buses.
They had to be right hand drive, well ventilated and air conditioned. Bus stops had to have electronic timetables with the estimated time of arrivals updated real time and the operator had to coordinate with other service providers such as Gozo Channel.
By the second year, an SMS information system would be in place enabling commuters to SMS the name of the bus stop and the route they wanted and receive the estimated time of arrival of the next bus. There had to be regular briefings on radio stations regarding delays and rerouting and there also had to be a call centre.
Buses had to be accessible to wheelchair users and drivers had to be fluent in Maltese and have a knowledge of basic English. They had to have a professional dress code, would not be able to smoke on duty or drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. Doors had to be closed at all times and buses would only drive away when all passengers were seated.
Dr Gatt said that for the first time in Malta’s history there was going to be a contract for the operation of the bus service. Over the years, the Association of Public Transport had operated more like a trade union rather than an operator.
Malta, he said, had the largest ratio of cars on the road per square kilometre. This was costly and resulted in environmental problems.
He said that 370 buses from the currently fleet were Euro 0 and only a couple could be used as vintage.
An arrangement had been made with Wasteserv for the recycling of some of these buses and others would be passed on to Heritage Malta for display in a transport museum.
The government, the minister said, was to apply with the Malta Environment and Planning Authority for the upgrading of termini at Valletta, Victoria and Bugibba and for the extension of the Blata l-Bajda Park and Ride and for the creation of new park and ride system in Marsa and Luxol.
It would also apply for repair garages at Corradino and Xewkija.
The budget for this infrastructural work is €9 million.
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Comments
2. The Pollution that the old buses (even the new ones) give out is just horrendous.
3. Screw the Old British buses, they're nothing but crappy useless Tour buses that were rejected by the british.
4. I also believe that 99% of all of the bus drivers should be fired, and that the rest should be taught hygeine.
5. The buses are horrendously filthy. they should be cleaned at least once a day.
http://www.petitiononline.com/savdbss/petition.html
Thanks,
James - Malta GC
The facts are still the same!
As I said before I am in full favor of the reform, BUT the current buses should NOT be destroyed, especially the MALTESE built ones. Some should be placed in a transport museum (if there will ever be one) and some should be retained by their owners for RESTORATION and PRESERVATION if they want to, or sold to who's interested, and believe me, there are interested!!!
@Johann Tonna
You are correct, the Kinglong and Dennis Dart SLF buses which are in Malta are just as uncomfortable as the older buses. The reason for this is that they are low floor buses and have air ride suspension. The suspension contains liquid nitrogen spheres and air cushioned bags and the fluid is dispersed to retain ride height via a series of pipes interconnected front to rear. Also different to older buses is that the wheels are mounted on spigots and not on a hub as the older buses. On the rough roads across most of Malta the newer buses have a worse ride as the suspension cannot keep up with the movement.
I am another Brit who loves to see old buses runnning both here and in Malta and funnily enough some of our old buses from where I live (West Midlands) ended up in Malta. Like others have said, I love their character, like the iconic London buses, but although the really old buses are generally well cared for like the one in the photo, many of the buses, including the new King Long buses have been bashed about and not cared for. When you are paying for a service, you deserve the best and the Maltese should be entitled to the new buses, with Euro V emissions as the reform takes place after its introduction, also hybrid and LP gas/electric buses. In the UK although classic buses are retained for heritage routes, the service buses are brand new Euro V low floor Volvo, Merc and Dennis. West Midlands Transport has just paid £20 million for new double deckers which have wifi and aircon! These replace 20 year old buses!
As for your comment re police uniforms, maybe yes they should be consigned to history, or is that their current appearance??? Several countries have uniforms which look the same!
Seems like you haven't been on a bus for ages.
What I suggest is to change the current buses to more be environmentally friendly, but keep the same style
To all the brits, history's place is in museums, just like colonialism.
Lets get rid of all the junk buses, drivers and all.
Mind you, I'll believe it when I see it.
I'm not saying to keep the current buses in service ... far from it, we desperately need a new service with new buses. BUT rest assured when the new buses arrive they will become rattle boxes too shortly after with the status of our roads! Have you ever rode on a bus and bumped and shaked your bones on a new smooth road? I don't think so. Last week I rode on a King Long, new in 2003 that rattled and shaked more than an old bus!! FIX ALL THESE ROADS FIRST, then everyone will stop complaining about rattling and shaking.
Well that couldn't further from the truth! A big proportion of Tourists fall in love with everything that is Maltese... This only happens because they see that it has a a unique character that differs from their own...
Very few tourists would visit Malta once the look and feel of Maltese culture becomes indistinguishible from their own. We mosy protect what makes us unique. Of course, we should be modern but remain unique. We must grow bit we must do it the in the Maltese Mediterranean way. Otherwise the Maltese will become an endagered species.
These are the tourists that will come again and again. And these are the tourists that respect us for who we are and these are the tourists that we need to care about most!
You think turists love them. Let me tell you something, Turists think there cute, but once on board, they start bouncing up and down and inhaling the fumes, they start laughing. Laughing at us! Sure I think we can keep a couple to use them as tour buses. But lets be real here, like Miriam Camenzuli said, who will ever care about a Maltese bus culture.
I say go ahead, Modernise the fleet and less pollution. I just hope a better system would have more ridership and maybe reduce the volume of private cars on the road. It is getting pretty bad over there. I come to Malta every year, and it's gotten worse every year.
So why don't we get a bunch of these new glistening Volvo Irizar or Scania Coaches with touch screen internet and Wifi on board and do away these antique busses once and for all...
I can't wait to cuddle up in one of the new ones with AC for a silent bump free ride! They even have a bathroom and coffee machine on board! Wow!
=======================
Sign the petition
http://www.petitiononline.com/maltabus/petition.html
We have organised a petition in the hope that many will choose to ask the authorities re-think their plans on what to do with the (oldest and historically valuable) classic Maltese busses... We believe that after they are Totally Overhauled, Serviced, Upholstered, Cleaned, Painted and re-Engined (with modern clean engines) they should remain in service as part of the new bus fleet that will be taking on the task of Malta's public transport infrastructure. Some could even be converted to an electric or a natural-gas drive train.
They should be used to service the oldest of Malta’s villages and add help preserve some of the unfortunately-endangered Mediterranean character that these still have. Let's not lose this important part of Malta's character.
These vehicles have become a signature of the Maltese Islands way of life and they are appreciated by locals and foreigners alike. Yes, they are old but they can be economically brought up to standard. They are also an integral piece of Maltese History which shouldn't be simply cut-up and recycled like common junk...
When something is too good to be true...
how much extra pollutants are to be emmited in the busses' service lives??
at least leave OUT EURO 3 !!
Mr GATT A do you understand obviousely don't think so therefore get an advice otherwise only the above introduction seems the name of the game
cdhtqt
It takes much much more than a the most of modern engines to make a proper bus in the present overall circumstances
Chassies dynamics / design determine optimum driver control and comfortable secure handling of such a complicated machine on our congested roads you cannot get these dynamics from old buses please !!! sorry cannot go technical
simply put none of the old buses can match such qualities unless common sense prevails
This is something they should've thought about when "improvements to the system" SHOULD have been implemented with each raise in fares, They should've thought about when adulterating the fuel to pollute the rest of us, They should've thought about when displaying the oft reported bad manners and complete disregard to the paying customers. Need I carry on?
Splendid!
http://www.petitiononline.com/maltabus/petition.html
The old buses have become an icon, a legend... Yes, PLEASE do something to make them more efficient, etc... (new engines and stuff like that)...but please, DO NOT take them off our roads.
...it would be a sad, sad day in Malta's history.
You could have even saved money by simply redoing the upholstery and seating configurations of the old busses and by replacing the engines to make them conform with modern emissions standards...
Some may argue that safety standards could not be met, but I can counter that by reminding that in the end current busses proved to be quite safe over the many decades and the cruise speed of busses needn't (and shouldn’t) be high and there are various ways to limit speed such as mandating the installation of speed-limiting devices..
Tourists and other visitors, by and large, share a positive experience of the look and feel of the old busses... The service might have been crap and surely needed complete rethinking - But the (old) busses?... They are a piece of Maltese History and culture which shouldn't be simply kicked out like junk...
This sounds like another bit short sighted reasoning by the administration...
These include more frequent buses to areas of high demand, and to areas which previously had no, or very little in terms of bus service.
Also, what is of paramount importance, is the regulation of attitude and behaviour of the bus drivers. They shouldn't just have basic knowledge of English, in my opinion they should be fluent. They should be respectful towards all of their clients, and not swear their head off if an old lady is taking her time to go down the steps of the bus, or if tourists ask questions, or if they're not given the exact amount of money. Also, not being racist.
It must also be made sure that bus drivers go about and actually fulfill their entire trip, not go through shortcuts, or decide to stop for a coffee or to buy their groceries, and not speed through bus stops.
They should also keep their bus and themselves in a presentable condition, to say the least.
First you have to upgrade all the main roads, and then try to educate all involved in the public transport system.
If you succeed in doing that, then try to reform.
It is not enough to inform the public that fares will be increased (or is it decreased?),
neither that the UHM has reached agreement (with whom? - there is no successful bidder yet) that all APT will keep their jobs for ten years (remember what was said about Maltacom employees). And the most crucial problem is who will convince all bus owners that they cannot have their share of the cake?
This is Malta "Tal Mickey Mouse"
Euro 4 January 2006
Euro 5 September 2010
Above are the introduction dates for EURO emission levels.
If we will have EURO 4 compliance in 4 years time that means we will once again be behind European standards. Why not just mandate that ALL buses need to be Euro 4 compliant? After all EURO 4 was introduced in 2006 - 3 YEARS AGO.
Why make do with old buses and standards? to save money I guess - Just make sure you dont get lung cancer in the meatime....
O. Mallia
Fondazjoni Wirt Industrijali
Double deckers, real time of when the buses will arrive, new infrastructure...these are good points.
However, in no article did I come across of what will happen to the ticketing system!! If tickets will be continued to be purchased on the bus, then I am very sorry to say that all these reforms will be in vain.
At each bus stop, the driver has to issue a ticket and give change. These procedure nearly takes up 70% of the trip.
If we use the UK system of the Osyter card not only will the trip be more time efficient, but also the new company will have better cash flow as cash in its majority will be collected before hand by using varous means as indicated beloe.
Purchase of tickets can be effected through internet banking, mobile (sms cash deposit in lets call it Malta Osyter card), payment at the bus terminal. The Malta Osyter card would incur a one time fee of lets say Eur3/ Eur4. This will reduce risks of theft, driver would be focused on driving and checking the Osyter card has taken payment.
The reform looks like a physical state of the art system which will be one of the most advanced in the world. I hope the the drivers courteousness will be reformed too!
Do not leave the aspect of customer friendliness out of the reform. It goes beyond uniform and should focus on how the driver approaches the customers.
I have a suggestion to ADT and the minister:
Can an online reporting system be setup so that grievances be officially reported? The system would also keep the reporter informed. The system must also protect the reporter's identity from the drivers.
Some new buses don't even have a single window. In summer I've seen tourists faint on buses because of the heat. The seats are anything but comfortable, and as Chris Demicoli said, the older buses look so much nicer than the new buses.
The only thing that's wrong with old buses is the emissions, lack of maintenance and lack of cleanliness. That's all.
Yes tourists like them because they can make fun of our old and outdated system. Third world country buses!!!!!!!!!
On 2 days of the week, I need my car to get to work becasue I have to attend a course after office hours. If I were to buy the cheapest tickets available, they would still come out more expensive than using my own car - mine is a small one with low consumption and emissions.
For this system to work, the buses would have to be REALLY frequent as time is an important factor today. If I leave Marsa at 5 sharp to get to my course in Ta'Xbiex at 5.30 during the rush hour, I would not need to spend more than 5 minutes waiting at the bus stop.
Bus lanes are not possible everywhere.
I'll start thinking about investing in a motorcycle, maybe.
"They (the bus drivers) had to have a professional dress code, would not be able to smoke on duty or drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs."
I hope they also ban the drivers from using mobile phones whilst driving, I've had a few hair raising incidents whilst the driver has been engrosed in a deep conversation whilst driving in rush hour trafic,
"Doors had to be closed at all times and buses would only drive away when all passengers were seated"
Does this mean that there will be no standing on the new buses, (I doubt that),
Today I went to valletta by bus. We got there in record time, with the driver exceeding speed limits for best part of the journey.
While driving through Marsa, Shumi decided to start playing with the ticketing machine - extracting what looked like reports and some memory chip - with the bus doing 80kph!
Do you remember the noticess 'Do not disturb the driver'!?
On my return, i found a driver dressed in tatters, eating a bag of pastizzi in the bus.
On starting off, he lit a cigarette and was more keen on spying the girls - were they going up, down or simply walking - instead of concentrating on his driving. Thank god his old banger could hardly do 50kph.
So, Transport reform? I see a long way ahead. Perhaps Dr. Gatt's bulldozer tactics are badly needed after all.
Wake up! Yes I have the cheek to say it's not enough.
"it takes at least 2-4 years before production vehicles satisfy a standard" - THEY'RE IN PRODUCTION !!! (crap what you said)
http://www.sydneybuses.info/corporate/bus-fleet/volvo-b12ble---euro-5.htm
Read on since you didn't even bother to search a bit...
http://www.volvo.com/trucks/qatar-market/en-qa/about-us/Environment/euro4_euro5/aboutEuro4_5/about_euro4_5.htm
http://www.dieselnet.com/standards/eu/hd.php
http://www.busandcoach.com/newspage.aspx?id=992&categoryid=0
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_Citaro
I hope you are the only one who does not complain about bus exhaust exhaust and noxious gases.
On the other hand, in regards to the 'look' of the new buses, they should incorporate some design hints or cosmetic features to maintain the unique look of our buses. It will be a shame to lose another Maltese icon that is so much a part of the Maltese landscape, continuing down the slippery slope of "Blanding Malta".
Having said this, I hope and pray that I AM WRONG for the sake of the country and the environment as at the moment it is a disaster and I suppose anything better than a disaster is progress !!
In my opinion 15year old buses are already old and in 5 years time they are going to be 20 years old thus ready to scrap.
Let's also hope that after we get rid of the heavy polluting buses we also get rid of other heavy machinery that pollutes everyhere it passes!!
What are they going to do to change their attitude/s? Intensive cognitive behavioural therapy? Or a brain-transplant!!
I was under the impression that Austin Gatt had some clout, but its all bark and no bite - yet again!!
Euro VI doesn't even exist yet - it's scheduled for release as a standard in 2013!! While Euro V was only issued last year - it takes at least 2-4 years before production vehicles satisfy a standard (why? because the vehicle needs to be DEVELOPED FIRST). And how on earth can't you realise that the staggered system is there only to serve as a bridge allowing the use of some of the present buses in order to postpone some of the investment (and by investment I mean some poor private soul's MILLIONS OF EUROS)? And it's not like there is some kind of huge compromise here - 30% of the fleet has to be spanking brand new off the design table! The minister is talking about having 70% of the buses operating in the harbour areas being electric when half the CARS on this island are not even Euro III compliant, and you have the CHEEK to say it's not enough?!!
More of the same BUT AT HIGHER PRICES as has been happening these last 20 years.
Practiclly all new routes WILL NOT RUN for more than a few months.
There is no place for sentimentalism when our health and that of future generations is at stake.
The question is: How long will it be for infrastructure like the bus stop screens to be victims of vandalism?
Right ok - at least we are not going to see 50yr old buses fuming in front of us any more...By the way - how do they manage to pass VRT?
"(Drivers) They had to have a professional dress code, would not be able to smoke on duty or drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs."
Well currently they have a smart dress code, not all smoke - errr....alcohol and drugs?? is it legal to do it anyway? so why mention it? Or just to make sure that we are politically correct?
"Double deckers and articulated buses, which comprised of two rigid parts linked together by a pivoting joint, would be permissible although these were between 16 and 18 metres."
I really hope that the roads are adequate for these kind of large buses being described above.
> Most drivers cant even speak Maltese in a civil manner, let alone English
> Dispatchers, Drivers and everyone else from that lot cant even spend a day wearing a smart uniform.. many a times have I seen dispatchers with jeans and sport shoes!
I suggest that the CCTV to be installed should monitor the driver as well, since most of them cant be trusted to speak and dress decently or not to stop in the middle of the road talking to the bus driver on the opposite side of the road or stopping to buy something from the local pastizzeria!!
I believe that this reform is only possible if ADT or whoever employs new drivers who are up to date in terms of educational standards and if such people are well disciplined.
I'd been ranting a lot that drivers should posses at least 5 O levels: English, Maltese, Maths and any 2 other subjects.
And yet all buses pass the VRT.
Enjoy reading on Euro 0 compliance:
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VH3-4V3HFHD-4&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1051990856&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=2217013a92cdbef6bad89eac66a8b1fe
The plan seems very ambitious. I live in the UK, and I am fairly certain that our bus system is not as advanced as what is proposed here, and 9 million Euro doesn't seem very much to achieve it. I wish you good luck :-)
The reason that mobile phone use is not mentioned is because it is illegal to use such equipment while driving. However, apparently,, it is not illegal to smoke while driving (don't ask me why not). Having said that, It is illegal to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Why get rid of the old Busses ? They are our cultural heritage.
The old Busses ARE Malta and Malta IS the old busses.
to get rid of the old busses is ike getting rid of the Old Stone Temples.
The old ones must stay...Our heritage is going down the toilet day by day.
"the minister said the objectives of new system were economic, social and environmental."
Environmental??? And we're still talking of Euro 3 compliance?
And that we'll have all buses Euro 4 compliant in four years time i.e. 2013??
We should be talking of Euro 5 and Euro 6 compliance. Just have a look:
http://europa.eu/legislation_summaries/internal_market/single_market_for_goods/motor_vehicles/interactions_industry_policies/l28186_en.htm
Wasteserv is not licensed for end of life vehicles, neither is it licensed for Waste electrical and electronic equipment...but seems to be doing both illegally......how about waking up to the realities of the community.......and not doing so when it suits the Goverenment of the day
As for the reform , i do hope were not trying to jump ten steps when we could have done three within our limits and resources......i hear that to go to valletta from zurrieq you need to stop at luqa termini now then proceed to Valletta or from mellieha to valletta you need to go to ta qali then proceed to valletta...no wonder a two hour ticket is needed........but despite this im ready to wait and see ...come January 01, 2011 as i assure you readers .......buon vivre, b tal linja jaqbillek !
This Document is very detailed to the extent that it mentions that they, would not be able to smoke on duty or drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs (thank God) but forget to mention that they cannot use of mobile phones while driving............. as many do!
I have to say it. Nothing has changed in the last 30 years, except for the bus fare. Believe it or not, one of the buses had water coming in through the flooring after it had just rained! The other buses were all in a really poor, shameful state! Third-world-country style!
The only acceptable bus was the King-Long type. Its 2009 and about time that Malta gets a new, modern and efficient bus service!
Well done.
J.
The new system is doomed to fail unless thousands of private cars are removed from the road. The delays are usually caused by too many private cars.
Give us a sample of what we will be getting and I will be the first to scrap my car January 2011.